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Tommy Warrilow revealed his concern over facing Cray Valley after Ashford beat the Millers to book their place in the play-off final.
The Nuts & Bolts edged Kevin Watson’s side 1-0 at Homelands on Tuesday night to set up a final against Kent rivals Herne Bay this Saturday.
Isthmian South East runners-up Ashford only discovered their semi-final opponents after the last round of league games, with Cray Valley, who finished fifth, the last team Warrilow wanted to take on.
But they came through it thanks to Jay May’s sixth-minute strike and some excellent defending as the Millers probed away in the second half.
“It was a tough game, which we knew it would be, but I thought we deserved to win,” said boss Warrilow.
“They’re a really good side and if you want the truth, I’ll say it now, they’re the only team I didn’t want to face in the semi.
“If I had to pick a team not to play it would have been them because I know what they’ve got in their armoury and I know the players they’ve got.
“But I knew if we were organised, and that’s the reason we finished second, then we’re a good team, the boys just need to believe in themselves more.
“They’re good lads but they genuinely don’t believe how good they can be.
“If they’re organised and use their brain, like tonight, I thought they were excellent without the ball.
“They’re the things I noticed. We gave it away cheaply a few times but we got it back.
“Overall, I’d have been upset if we hadn’t won. I thought we deserved it.
“The two halves were polar opposites. First half we pressed quite a bit and second half we sat back.
“That wasn’t planned but if you’re going to do it, I’d rather be organised and make them try and find that pass.
“I’m trying to think of a save Jordan Carey made.
“Their keeper didn’t have many to make either but that’s what happens in semi-finals.
“I’m just pleased to keep a clean sheet, my teams don’t normally do that, where we’re so forward-thinking.
“If you take your chances it doesn’t cause a problem, it’s when you don’t that it can come back and bite you, but tonight it didn’t. We defended well.”
May only returned to the fold a couple of weeks ago after a lengthy spell out but showed his importance to the team with his winner.
“It’s massive getting Jay back,” said Warrilow.
“We know he’ll slow and cramp up but he attracts people out of the game and he’s cashed in with his goal.
“It was a good decision by Tommie Fagg, when everyone was saying shoot, he had the composure to roll Jay in.”
There were celebrations at full-time and while Ashford know the job is only half-done, it was important to enjoy the win.
“We haven’t won anything yet, we know that,” said Warrilow. “But if you don’t enjoy tonight, when are you going to?
“You should always enjoy your wins, just don’t get carried away. We’re on a high tonight because we won but we didn’t go over the top celebrating.”
